Chapter 1039 – (Side Story)17. A Witch’s First Love (14)
After spending a full day, resting to relieve physical and mental fatigue, the two of them put on dry clothes and equipment.
“…”
Illyana glanced at her Eunhyeon with a look of incomprehension.
In the end, Eunhyeon did not harbor any ill will towards Illyana until the end.
In a way, it was a great shock to Illyana that even though they were hugging each other naked, the flow did not flow in that direction at all.
‘Me? How me?’
Although she didn’t go around on her own, she doesn’t harbor any such evil feelings toward herself, as she has captured the attention of countless men even within the Magic Tower.
Her pride is hurt to the point where it’s really annoying.
‘Isn’t that guy actually a eunuch?’
It was natural to have such doubts.
But whether Iliana thought that or not, Eunhyeon was fully preparing to leave her small hut.
“Let’s go.”
Illyana let out a small sigh, putting her complicated feelings behind her.
Although this concern is a serious problem, it has more priority now.
She couldn’t help but regain her composure and ask Eunhyeon.
“What are you going to do now?”
“First of all, I’m going to head to the Safety Zone where I decided to join in advance.”
“Are there adventurers waiting there?”
“It was decided in advance. “Three policies to prepare for emergencies.”
First, when she feels that she has encountered an enemy she cannot deal with, she runs away without looking back.
Second, if the expedition is split into two or more groups due to an unintentional or unexpected situation, return to the Safety Zone as quickly as possible and prioritize confirmation of survival and joining.
Third, if joining the safety zone does not proceed even after 3 days, exit the snowy mountain and report the problem to the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Oh, there was something like that.”
Illyana remembered that too late.
“But will they really follow that policy?”
It wouldn’t have been surprising if I had already been caught in that avalanche and died.
For adventurers, wouldn’t it have been the most reasonable way to escape from this snowy mountain, assuming that Eunhyeon and Illyana were dead?
“Before I ran away, I talked about the policy again. And in preparation for that time, we have decided on a third policy.”
If Eunhyeon and Illyana do not arrive at the safety zone within 3 days, leave the snowy mountain and ask the Adventurer’s Guild for help.
This policy itself was the next action based on the premise that they were caught in an avalanche and died.
In other words, at least one day has passed, and it is highly likely that adventurers will be waiting for Eunhyun and Illyana to join in the safety zone within two days.
“… Are you sure you’ll wait for us?”
“Hide and wait in itself is worth doing. “In the safety zone, we left enough food to last for about 6 days if we ate sparingly.”
At least they were not the ones who concluded that their employer, whose fate is unknown, died arbitrarily and irresponsibly terminated the contract.
“… Yes.”
Regarding that, Illyana nodded her head in agreement.
Even as they were running away from the avalanche, they were contemplating whether they should go back to save themselves.
Rather than just abandoning the job and running away without looking back, I saw him consider whether to maintain trust and loyalty with his employer even when his life was at risk.
In the Tower of Magic, there were many people who stabbed others in the back for their own feelings, pride, or honor.
Compared to those types of human beings, they are much better.
“So what happens after joining?”
“From then on, you have to decide.”
“Me?”
Illyana opened her eyes wide after hearing the unexpected story.
“Although we have encountered a sudden situation, the purpose of this expedition that you want has not changed.”
“… “It’s the collection of perennial snow ginseng.”
“It’s probably at the top of the Kurdel snow mountain. “You know what it means to go up there again, right?”
“… “I know.”
Illyana understood.
Having to climb this snowy mountain again and reach the top means having to fight directly against ‘something’ that intentionally caused the terrible avalanche they experienced.
At that moment, her body and her hands trembled.
The emotion that dominates the trembling of her hands and arms holding the staff is fear and fear.
The fear of having to go through the same horrible experience that almost led to my tragic death last night.
It was scary.
At one point she felt like giving up everything.
Nevertheless, Illyana’s personality did not allow her to choose that and run away.
‘How much money did I spend and how much effort did I put in to get here…? . But now you’re telling me to run away from here?’
But to achieve her goal, she had to fight at the top of the snowy mountain.
“… Do you know what that is?”
Illyana didn’t know exactly what it was.
From what she understands, all the demon beasts in the snowy mountain are so powerful and gigantic that they run away and can even cause an avalanche.
“I know.”
Eunhyeon nodded his head.
The source of the disaster that caused an avalanche at the top of a snowy mountain.
We have already figured out what it is through detection.
The problem is how to deal with it.
“Illyana.”
“Why?”
“Your goal is to collect perennial snow ginseng through this expedition and receive full marks in external evaluation based on that performance, right?”
“… Right?”
I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.
Illyana nodded her head.
“Then it doesn’t matter if you don’t have to submit the Permanent Snow Ginseng to the Magic Tower?”
“… What does that mean? Then how do I get my score?”
Eunhyeon pointed to the top of the snowy mountain.
He pointed to the demon beasts that would be there and made a suggestion to Illyana.
“Let’s subdue that. Let’s get some points with that.”
“… “What?”
◆ ◆ ◆
“I’m glad you’re safe!”
As soon as Eunhyun and Illyana returned to the safety zone, the waiting adventurers welcomed them.
“… “Were you waiting?”
As soon as Illyana entered the safety zone, she looked at the adventurers who welcomed them with an unexpected expression.
Although she reacted skeptically, she was waiting for them as Eunhyeon expected.
“Yeah. What… “I’m sorry.”
“What is it?”
“We were all so busy taking care of our own lives that we threw away our employer’s wife. That…”
While contemplating what to say, all the adventurers, including her leader Malek, bowed their heads and apologized to Illyana.
“I was sorry.”
They had no choice but to bow their heads and apologize.
Although being an adventurer is a job that involves risking one’s experience and life, one’s credibility and reputation are just as important.
Prioritizing one’s own life may be a natural human survival instinct, but if rumors start to spread that he ‘abandoned his employer and ran away’, who will be able to entrust him with the job?
It is also a problem to abandon the contractual relationship, and to abandon the duties that a human being should have.
I gave up on my instinct to want to live and abandoned that duty.
The apology to Illyana is her shame towards herself.
“… Are you okay? “Let’s skip that matter.”
“Really?”
The heads of the adventurers who had bowed rise again.
If Illyana reports them to the Adventurer’s Guild as adventurers who abandoned their employers and ran away, their future path, which was currently undergoing promotion to the silver level, will quickly turn into a downward spiral.
Illyana joined us in the safety zone, and she even gave a sincere apology, so her mood wasn’t that bad.
‘There are so many human beings in the Magic Tower who can’t even do this simple thing.’
Illyana liked the adventurers’ honest apology.
“Look. “I said I would wait for you.”
“… That’s right.”
Illyana burst out laughing when she saw Eunhyeon proudly emphasizing that she was right.
“Hmm?”
Adventurers raised a question mark over the suddenly changed relationship between Eunhyun and Illyana.
I don’t know what happened to make me stop talking, but it was a sudden change in distance.
Eunhyun was no different from usual, but what was even more strange was that Illyana’s previously rigid attitude had noticeably softened.
Curiosity arose, but before the adventurers could bring it up as a topic.
“Now then, let’s decide our future direction.”
Eunhyeon returned the topic.
When the story about expeditions and exploration, which was the main business, began, the adventurers’ expressions immediately became tense and focused.
“First of all, the original purpose of collecting perennial snow ginseng does not change.”
“Then what do we do with that demon beast at the top?”
Other adventurers must have noticed too.
The employer’s goal, the perennial snow ginseng, will be at the top of the snow mountain.
In that case, in order to collect it, conflict with the demonic beasts there would have been an unavoidable process.
I had already guessed to some extent, but for some reason, my sad premonition was not wrong.
“We will subdue.”
“Useup…”
“As expected…”
The faces of the adventurers all blurred.
Someone openly laments.
Of course.
No matter how dangerous their job is, putting their lives on the line, they would not want to do something foolish and put their lives in danger of actually dying.
The desire to at least be promoted to the silver rank meant that I wanted to return home safely and continue to work.
However, there were no people who showed that they did not want to do it.
Since I had already broken faith and duty by running away from my employer, I couldn’t back down, not only to review for promotion, but also to restore that relationship.
It was a simple matter of conscience, but Illyana was grateful for that alone.
“Well, don’t stress too much. You will never fight him head-on.”
“… Then, who will fight?”
Eunhyeon smiled and spoke to the adventurers who were listening with a skeptical expression.
“I’ll explain the operation now.”
◆ ◆ ◆
A day in the safety zone could not completely restore the adventurers’ condition, but it was an unavoidable problem.
It is not comfortable to sleep in a tent on the cold ground without a soft bed.
Of course, the environment that Eunhyeon created was the best compared to other adventurer parties, but restoring it to perfect condition is still an unavoidable problem.
“I thought I would climb up here again, but…”
“It really sucks. Huh.”
“But there are no demon beasts.”
Having to climb this snowy mountain again in the midst of a strong snowstorm is so sad that it brings tears to your eyes, but the good news is that they are not the only ones affected by the avalanche.
Many demonic beasts on the snowy mountain died after being caught in an avalanche that covered them like a disaster.
It was also a great advantage to be able to climb the mountain while sparing the fatigue that could have accumulated from battle.
“I’m tired. “Carry me on your back.”
“… Okay. Okay.”
And unlike the first time when they kept their distance, the employer and guide now proudly opens their hands and reluctantly listens.
The rapid change in the relationship between the two is also of great interest to adventurers climbing the snowy mountain.
By the time I had walked for a full day, resting and hiking repeatedly.
The expedition finally reached the summit.
Whoa, whoa!
At the same time, it was a natural process to sense the presence of an intruder entering one’s territory and reveal oneself.
It was a terrifying roar that pierced my ears through the snowstorm.
Illyana, as well as her adventurers, felt the trembling of the air against her skin, and they all began to freeze with tension.
Thud! Thud! Boom!
“That…”
A monster that created an avalanche so massive that it swept over this entire snowy mountain.
A huge figure pretending to be the owner of this snowy mountain slowly emerges from the blizzard-filled fog.
Illyana muttered with a blank expression.
“Well, in…” ?”
“A frost giant, to be exact.”
A huge beast covered in pure white fur.
It has the shape of a ‘human’, but its size and appearance cannot be considered human.
Crrrr!
Recognizing the presence of an intruder, the ‘Yeti (Snowman)’ appeared, gritting its teeth.
